Air Quality
Contact Us
The Town of St. Marys is working with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) to provide information about air quality in our community.
This web page provides an overview of the legislation that protects air quality in Ontario, current MECP air monitoring activities in the area and contact information for the MECP and HPPH.
More information will be added to this page as it becomes available. If you would like to receive an email when new information is added, click "Receive Email Updates" at the bottom of this page.
Air monitoring activities
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP)
The MECP ensures all area industries are in compliance with current Ontario air regulations.
The MECP completed 18 months of air quality monitoring in the Town of St. Marys and removed the temporary air monitoring station on December 20, 2018.
The MECP analyzed the data collected to compile a comprehensive dataset that it has shared in its final report (below).
Previously, the MECP reviewed the data collected from the temporary air monitoring station between July 2017 and June 2018. The measured ambient pollutant levels for that period met provincial air standards.
Huron Perth Public Health
Huron Perth Public Health worked with Public Health Ontario to conduct an independent analysis of the 2017 air monitoring data with regards to air quality standards and human health.
Resources
- HPPH St. Marys Cement Health Hazard Investigation Follow-up: Pneumonia Rates in St. Marys (April 2019)
- HPPH St. Marys Cement Health Hazard Investigation Presentation (May 2018)
- HPPH St. Marys Cement Health Hazard Investigation Report (May 2018)
- HPPH Public Health Update (March 2018)
Reports, Presentations and Memos
| 2020 Mobile Air Monitoring Survey - St. Marys (MECP memo) |
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Summary: The ministry completed four days of mobile air monitoring in the vicinity of St. Marys Cement on July 14, 15, 16, and 17, 2020. The survey investigated ambient concentrations of volatile organic compounds, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter upwind and downwind of St. Marys Cement. Ambient concentrations of the measured volatile organic compounds, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide did not exceed applicable air quality standards, criteria or converted assessment values during the 2020 survey. Particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter were assessed for screening purposes only and not directly compared to standards, however the measured concentrations were comparable to those measured during the 2017, 2018 and 2019 mobile surveys. |
| 2017-2018 Airpointer Survey of St. Marys Cement: Final Report (MECP memo) |
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Summary: The air monitor results were compared to the applicable air quality standards and guidelines and no exceedences of the air quality standards were measured. Two incidents above the updated one-hour Ambient Air Quality Criterion for sulphur dioxide were measured in November 2017, before the updated criterion came into effect. |
| 2019 Mobile Air Monitoring Survey of St. Marys Cement (MECP memo) |
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Summary: The ministry completed five days of mobile air monitoring in the vicinity of St. Marys Cement on June 20, 24, and 27, 2019 and July 4, 2019 and August 20, 2019. The survey investigated ambient concentrations of volatile organic compounds and particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter upwind and downwind of St. Marys Cement. Ambient concentrations of the measured volatile organic compounds did not exceed applicable air quality standards, guidelines or converted assessment values during the 2019 survey. Particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter were assessed for screening purposes only and not directly compared to standards, however the measured concentrations were comparable to those measured during the 2018 and 2017 mobile surveys. |
| 2018 Mobile Air Monitoring Survey in the vicinity of St. Marys Cement (MECP memo) |
| 2017 -2018 Monitoring Survey in the Vicinity of St. Marys Cement: 2nd Interim Report (MECP memo) |
| 2018 St. Marys Community Meeting Presentation (St. Marys Cement) |
| 2017 St. Marys Air Information Presentation (MECP) |
| 2016 Mobile Air Monitoring in St. Marys (MECP memo) |
| 2017 - 2018 Monitoring Survey in the Vicinity of St. Marys Cement: Interim Report (MECP memo) |
| 2017 Mobile TAGA Survey in the Vicinity of St. Marys Cement (MECP memo) |
Who to contact
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
You can make a report to the MECP about air quality by contacting:
- The London District Office at 519-873-5199 or MOECC.London@ontario.ca during regular business hours; or,
- The MECP's Spills Action Centre (SAC), toll-free, 24 hours a day, at 1-800-268-6060 outside of regular business hours (evenings and weekends)
If possible, please provide the location, date, time, weather conditions and any other details when you make your report.
You can also file an anonymous report by calling the MECP's Pollution Hotline at 1-866-663-8477 (1-866-MOE-TIPS).
Huron Perth Public Health
Health-related questions or concerns can be reported to HPPH by calling the Health Line at 1-888-221-2133, ext. 3267.
Download the Public Health Update from HPPH to learn more about Public Health's role in addressing air quality concerns in St. Marys.
Fully accessible versions of all above documents are available in print upon request.